Lulu Sun goes down fighting in maiden WTA final

Lulu Sun put up a great battle in her 7-6(6) 6-4 loss to Linda Noskova in the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Monterrey, Mexico on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).

Both players looked to play aggressive tennis in a close final and Sun had two set points in the opening set.

However, it was the world No 35 from the Czech Republic who came through for the victory and claim the first title of her career.

Sun again showed that she’s able to live with players ranked higher than her and it will only be a matter of time before she wins her maiden WTA title.

Sun and Noskova played against each other in the first round of the Cincinnati Open last week, with Sun winning 6-4 7-6(4), so the 23-year-old Kiwi was able to take confidence from that occasion into her match against this year’s Australian Open quarterfinalist, and like that match in Cincinnati, there was little between the two players in this final.

Sun was broken in the second game of the opening set after a long battle, but in the next game got the break back, as Noskova put a backhand into the net trying to defend the second break point against her.

This was followed by a hold to love from the Kiwi No 1, to level the opening set at 2-2.

Sun had to defend a couple more break points at 2-3, which she did, but the next game was a big one.

Noskova went out to a 40-0 lead before Sun fought back to have a breakpoint, however, Noskova’s willingness to come to the net paid off as she got the hold.

At 5-5, Noskova once again fell behind 15-40, but once more got out of trouble and in the next game Sun hit a couple of incredible winners to send the set into a tiebreak.

At the change of ends, it was 3-3, then at 3-4 Noskova double faulted and soon after Sun was serving at 6-4. But the No 6 seed saved that set point and the one that followed, thanks to a big serve down the middle. 

Sun soon after had to save a set point on her serve and on it Noskova hit a huge return out wide that the Kiwi couldn’t get back. 

Noskova got a break in the fifth game of the second set and even though Sun never gave up, holding serve to love at 3-5, Noskova sent down an ace out wide on her first championship point for the title.

By getting to the final, Sun will pick up US$87,655 (NZ$140,629) of prize money, while the ranking points gained are predicted to lift her up to 41 in the world when they’re next updated.

Next week, Sun will play against Lucia Bronzetti from Italy in the first round of the US Open.